Creepy Castles and Abandoned Amusement Parks: 12 Spooky Spots in Germany

Everything about Devil’s Bridge in Saxony is a little eerie. There’s the fact that it’s in the middle of nowhere, perched inside Kromlauer Park in Eastern Germany. Then there’s the knowledge that the bridge itself was precariously designed with thin rock spires that make it difficult to cross. Even if you did want to hop across, you can’t: the bridge has been cordoned off in order to preserve its beauty. Commissioned by a knight in 1860, Devil’s Bridge was designed to perfectly reflect an arc into the water below. It was named such because, at the time, it was considered so dangerous it could only have been put there by Satan himself. Visit during golden hour for beautiful reflections in the water but don’t try to cross it yourself.

Eltz Castle is one of Germany’s best-preserved castles and has survived for more than 800 years without ever really needing any heavy renovations. Owned by the same family for 33 generations, this spooky spot sits in the hills above the Moselle between Koblenz and Trier. Rumor has it that Eltz Castle is haunted by Agnes Eltz, the daughter of the 15th Count of Eltz, who tragically lost her life during a siege at the castle. The most haunted room at Burg Eltz is the Countess Room which was Agnes’ own room. Step inside here and watch doors open and close, lights flicker on and off, and listen to whispery giggles from every direction. Often, staff arrives in the morning to find doors unlocked. Eltz Castle is mostly open for public tours, so keep an eye (and ear) out for any unwanted guests.

Landschaftspark in Duisburg-Nord started its life as an iron plant. Years later, this disused spot is most popular at night during the spooky season, when its endless tunnels are lit up with neon colors. What seems perfectly innocuous in the daytime gets a whole new creepy edge as soon as the sun goes down. You’re free to explore this abandoned spot as you please, which means potential hours of wandering around its enormous constructions, listening to the echoes of footsteps around. Wander away from the entrance and watch as the red, blue, and green lights reflect shadows on each metal cylinder. When you think about the industrial nature of this spot and the thousands of people who worked here, it feels all the spookier. This place is a top spot for “ghost photography,” and it’s easy to understand why.

Close your eyes as you step inside Ballhaus Riviera, and you’ll be able to picture scenes from the past. This regal ballroom was one of the most famous around, home to endless dances and formal events. Nowadays, this abandoned building is a shadow of its former self, with dilapidated ceilings, broken windows, and decaying floors with hints of its original, beautiful stones remaining. The Ballhaus Riviera at Grünau was built in 1890 and, at one point, was so popular it had protected status. When it closed in 1991, it quickly fell to decay, with its intricately decorated wallpaper replaced with graffiti tags and its high ceilings falling bit by bit. Plans to renovate the building were held back after a fire ravaged through, causing even more damage.

The Berlin Zitadelle may be a popular tourist spot nowadays, but it also holds the title of the most haunted place in the city. This well-preserved Renaissance military structure was built on top of a previous fort and sits in the middle of an island between the Havel and the Spree river. The Zitadelle is thought to be haunted by the “White Lady,” a mistress of Joachim II Hector of Brandenburg who served as prince-elector from 1535-1571. Anna Sydow, the White Lady’s official name, was locked away in the Zitadelle until her death and is often thought to wander the halls of the property. Officials thought they found Sydow’s skeleton during renovations, but legends suggest it belonged to another, unknown person who may have also been imprisoned at the Zitadelle.

Spreepark is an abandoned amusement park, with rides eerily swaying in the breeze and buildings left to rot with graffiti scribbled all over the walls. This creepy spot only opened in 1969 in North Plänterwald, Berlin, but officially closed in 2002 after a tragic accident on one of the rides drew the owner into bankruptcy. Although it’s been officially closed for the past two decades, it’s a popular spot for anyone with a love of the macabre despite its signs warning people to keep out. Spot a sun-bleached 130-foot-tall Ferris wheel, rusted teacup rides, overgrown bushes winding their way through many of the amusement stands, and an overall air of creepy nostalgia around every corner.

Berlin’s Peacock Island sounds pretty delightful from a first impression: a beautiful place surrounded by water, tree-lined trails to explore, and a historical castle in the middle. But read a little further into its dark history, and you may reconsider. Peacock Island, otherwise known as Pfaueninsel, is famously haunted by a 17th-century alchemist Johann Kunckel, who allegedly experimented with black magic in a laboratory on the island to create gold. While he passed away during an explosion on the island, he’s thought to still exist on the island, creeping around at night time in the form of a black figure with glowing red eyes and a face of anger.

Frankenstein Castle is perhaps Germany’s most popular spot during the spooky season when thousands flock from across the country and further afield to experience the magic and eerie atmosphere of this previously ordinary German castle. Perched on a hilltop in the Odenwald overlooking the city of Darmstadt, Frankenstein’s Castle inspired the name for Mary Shelley’s famed tale and has its fair share of spooky stories to match. Nowadays, you can visit the castle throughout the year to explore its ruins. Or visit during fall, when the castle hosts wild parties and incredible shows with werewolves, witches, and zombies.

You probably wouldn’t go wandering through a forest at night time anyway, but Germany’s Black Forest, with its haunted history, is definitely one you’d stick to visiting during daylight hours. This mysterious spot has its fair share of haunted inhabitants, from the headless horseman who rides a huge white horse through to the wretched king who kidnaps those who explore the forest and lurking werewolves looking for their prey. This forest’s dark shadows and almost pitch-black nature just add to its spooky appeal. Known as one of the world’s most haunted forests, it’s a place to visit cautiously.

The stories of Kirchlengern forest span all kinds of horrors: from ghost hauntings dating back to the 12th century through to family pets from nearby Osnabrück going missing and eventually being discovered in terrible states in the forest. It’s almost impossible to walk through Kirchlengern forest without feeling eyes following you, and only a few people have chanced their luck and stayed in the forest overnight. Often called one of Germany’s most haunted spots, it’s feared by locals and tourists alike.

Berlin’s Natur-Park Südgelände was a thriving railway yard until 1952 when it was shut down and left to decay. Nowadays, with overgrown vines, colorful graffiti, and an overall air of uneasiness, it’s a top spot for those looking to explore the darker side of Germany’s tourism. Many of the buildings were left fully intact when the yard closed, so you’re free to explore abandoned train carts from the 1930s, a 1927 water tower, the administrative hall, and various lookout points.